Machine for flanging glass blanks



July 27, 1948.

Filed NOV. 17, 1943 c. EISLER- v MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS 11 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNE July 27, 1948. c. EISLER 2,446,090

MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Filed Nov. 17. 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 All Zulu M Jul 27,1948. ElsLER 2,446,000

MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Filed Nov. 17, 1943 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 July 27, 1948. c, EISLER MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS 11 Sheetss-Sheecv 4 Filed Nov. 17, 1943 m vaju'rbn July 27, 1948. c, ElsLER 2,446,000

MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Filed Nov. 17, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVE'NTOR Array/vs) July 27, 1948. ElsLER 2,446,000

MACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Filed Nov. 17, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 6 x l 4 n! Mm; 1

'INVENTOR July 27,1948. g, E|5LER IAOHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS Bumxs 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed NOV. 17, 1943 m L H T m M i Z w m m I M gm m. V f m y w 4 I Arra Ey July 27, 1948. ElSLER 2,446,000

HACHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS July 27, 1948. c, E|$LER 2,446,000

CHINE FOR FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Filed NOV. 17, 1943 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 July 27, 1 948. c. EISLER 2,446,000

ucnms FOR mmame emss ammxs Filed Nov. 17, 1945 V p 11 Sheets-Sheet 1o July 27, 1948-. c. EISLER MACHINE FOR FLANG'ING GLASS BLANKS 11 Sheets-Shae}. 11

Filed NOV. 17, 1943 M M w W ATTOR EY Patented July 27, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE momma Foa FLANGING GLASS BLANKS Charles Elsler, South Orange, N. J.

Application November 17, 1943, Serial No. 510,847

Claims.

This invention relates ing tubular glass blanks, the blanks passing through the machine and while heated, being flanged or similarly shaped on one end and being also sheared at the flanged end if desired.

The machine is characterized by a propelling mechanism for the tubular glass blanks that is c'o-ordinated with heating, flaring, flanging and shearing mechanisms to accurately and quickly produce the article ready for assembly with other elements to form a finished product.

The machine is also designed to accelerate the rotation of the blanks at predetermined locations whereby more satisfactory results are obtained in treating the blanks. Another feature of the machine is the employment of heat-resistant rollers such as asbestos rollers or asbestosiaced rollers to effectively grip and rotate the glass blanks in the presence of increased friction in certain of the operations.

The machine is primarily designed to operate on a glass blank with plunger and mandrel either singly or in combination with one or more rotary forming dies, while the blank is passed stepby-step from one seat or operations to the next. The machine produces finished products, accurately and speedily, for the reason that the machine conveys the blanks and processes the blanks with'an absence of vibration, due to the construction and location of the various devices that heat and shape the glass. The forwarding means is smooth and even in its operation and the flaring and flanging means are constructed in a manner to cause an active and positive and accurate, yet speedy manipulation of the glass blank to form a finished article.

The invention also relates to certain details of construction that are more fully described hereinafter and finally embodied in the claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a general plan view of the improved type of machine. Figure 2 is a side view of the machine shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a view of the heating and conveying mechanism supplemental to Figure 2. Figure 4 illustrates the mechanism for imparting rotation to the glass blanks and effecting the operational alignment. Figure 5 is a view of the mechanism for accelerating the rotation of the glass blanks during certain operations. Figure 6 is a view taken from line VI-VI in Figure 4, illustrating the directional setting of overhead rollers. Figure I is a detail in Figure 5, indicated by the line VII-VII. Figure 8 illustrates the mechanism for flaring the ends of the glass to a machine for treat- I blanks prior to flanging them. Figure 9 is a view of the flanging device taken from line IX- IX in Figure 8. Figure 10 is a plan view of the device taken from line X'X in Figure 8. Figure 11 illustrates the successive stages of the flaring operation.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the fllanging device. Figure 13 illustrates the flanging die and mechanism for its operation. Figure 14 is a view of the mechanism taken from line XIV-XIV in Figure 13. Figure 15 is a view of a plunger device shown in Figure 12 taken from line XV- XV. Figure 16 is a diagrammatic illustration of' the relation of the flanging die and plunger viewed from line XVI-XVI in Figure 15. Figure 17 shows the end of the glass blank before and after flanging. Figure 18 is a general view' of a shearing device and its actuating mechanism. Figure 19 is a view of the mechanism shown in Figure 18, taken on lineXIX-JHX of Fig. 18. Figures 20 and 21 show the shearinghead with the shearing knives at the commencement and termination of the shearing stroke.

Figure 22 is a section in Figure 19 along line- )QUI-XXII. Figure 23 illustrates a detail of the plunger. Figure 24 shows the shearing knife carriage.

blanks. raising all overhead rollers. Figure 2'? is a plan view of the driving mechanism of the machine. Figure 28 is a diagrammatic illustration of the driving mechanism. Figure 29 is a. diagrammatic illustration of the means for jointly raising the disc rollers. Figure 30 is a diagrammatic illustration of the means for rotating the overhead rollers. Figure 31 illustrates the means for periodically conveying the glass blanks from one operation to the next.

Figure 32 is a top view of the mechanism shown in Figures 12 to 15 but adapted for the forming of the tips of syringe barrels and similar articles.

the barrel. Figure 35 is a detail of the rotatable dies and the operating mechanism therefor. Fig- Figure 25 illustrates the effect of the shearing operation on the flanges of the glass Figure 26 illustrates the device used forv Figure 33 is an end view of Figure 32, partly in section. Figure 34 is a side view of Figure 32 equipped for forming the tip of by the nut I3.

The machine is constructed to perform various operations in proper sequence in pre-heating the glass blanks, flaring and flanging the heated.

blank, shearing the sides of the flange when necessary and then re-forming and smoothing the flanged part of the product.

The machine comprises a main frame designated by the numeral 50 and comprises the up-. rights BI and 52, the motor support 53 which carries the motor 55 and the top-plate 54. The top-plate carries the operating mechanism for the conveying and forwarding means for the glass blanks.

The hopper holds the glass blanks and they are fed from it by vibratory means and deposited on the double train of overlapping revolving discs or rollers 51a and 51b which co-operate with the conveyor chain 50 and its fingers 59 carried at suitable intervals on the links of the chain. The glass blanks, as they leave the hopper are deposited in the recesses formed between the overlapping discs of the flrst and second set of discs, and are subsequently moved step-by-step from one pair of discs to the next recess by the periodic movement of the chain and its fin ers.

The ejection from the hopper 00 to the conveying means is apparent from Figures 1 and 2.

All the disc rollers 51a. and 51b are made to rotate in the same direction, the frictional contact of the glass blanks with the rim of the rollers causing the blanlm to rotate in the opposite direction at the same peripheral speed as the disc rollers. It is important that the ends of the overhanging glass blanks should be aligned so that they are all properly distant from the mechanisms employed for shaping them. This alignment is effected by urging the blanks against the railing 60 which rail is carried by the brackets 8| which are adjustable as to length and height in the supports 02 by a means, such as by slidably positioning the brackets I in members corresponding to support I23 in Fig. 34 receiving support 30L adjustable as to height by screw and nut means corresponding to those indicated at I25, I28 of Fig. 34.

The means for urging the glass blanks against the aligning rail are the overhead rollers 63 which have acutely beveled rims 04 and are journalled in the clevis 05 rotatably adjustable in the supports 00 by the screw levers 01. The rollers can thereby be made to rotate in a plane that is angular relative to the path of travel of the blanks, the angle B in Figure 6 indicating such angular adjustment for the maintenance of alignment.

The roller clevis II is carried at the end of the arm 08 which is slidably mounted in the bracket 80 and longitudinally adjustable by the set screws II. The bracket .60 is vertically rotatable in the support II which is mounted on the lifting stanchions I2, the support 'II being rotatably adjusted in a horizontal plane on the stanchions I2 The support II has the horizontal arm It in which is threaded the vertical screw I5 in supporting contact with the arm 68 by means of which the bearing contact of the overhead rollers 03 with the glass blanks can be regulated. The arm 68 moreover, has the weight 16 slidably mounted thereon, by means of which the pressure of the rollers upon the glass blanks can be resiliently adjusted.

, The rollers 63 are rotated by the shafts TI in slidable splined engagement with the shafts 93 which have universal joints connecting them with the shafts 65 on which the rollers 63 are secured.

4 Each shaft 93 has a universal joint connecting it with the shaft 84, the shaft ll having sprocket 83 adapted to be driven by a chain "I passing above and around the return sprocket 202 (Fig. 30) and, at the other end, around the drive sprocket 03a which, as shown in Figs. 4 and 30, is on the same shaft as that which carries the gear I8 of the gear train 10, I0, and 00, the gear 80 being mounted on a shaft 0| which actuates the disc rollers 51a and 51b. The rotation of all the other overhead rollers 08 is effected by the chain and sprocket drive shown diagrammatically in Figure 30, from which it is apparent that the driving sprocket 82 mounted on shaft lI drives the sprocket 88 mounted on the shaft 04 through the above-mentioned gear train. The shafts 8| are journalied in the spaced supports 85 and 06, while the shaft 84 is journalled in an extension of support 05.

The overhead rollers are all raised in unison when the glass blanks are transferred from the recess between two disc rollers to the recess next adjacent. This elevating of the overhead rollers is due to the stanchions I2 being slidable in the guide posts 01 and bearing upon the lift rail 00 by the casters 80, the lift rail being raised by means to be hereinafter described. In order to keep the overhead rollers aligned. the lifting stanchions 12 have the fixed arms 80 having depending pilot pins 9| slidable in the arms 02 substantially integral with the guideposts 81.

The mechanism for flaring the ends of the glass blanks is shown in Figures 8 to 10. It will be seen that theflaring cones 94, 95 and 0B integral with the stems 04a, 00a, and "a respectively are carried by the cross member 01 integral with the bar 90. The bar 08 is slidable in the support 99 which is vertically adjustable in the base I02 by the screw I00 and the nut III. The depending member I 03. secured to the extremity of the bar 98 by such means as a setscrew I04 serves to keep the flaring cones in horizontal alignment with the glass blanks by engaging the guide member I05 which is secured I to or integral with the base I02.

The operation of flaring is carried out by periodically inserting and retracting the cones into and from the mouths of the glass blanks by the lever I06 fulcrumed on the shaft I01 and actuated by the cam I08 on the cam shaft I00 which engages the cam follower H0. The lever I is provided with the tappet screw III which bears against the depending member I03 and thereby advances the flaring cones to the position indicated by dotted lines in Figure 8. They are retracted to their non-operative position by the spring H2 interposed between the member Ill and the base I02, the spring also serving to keep the cam follower in contact with the cam.

The cones 94, 95, and 08 are shaped to produce three successive stages of flaring, as indicated in Figure 11. It is evident that the operation of flaring requires successively increasing curvature of the cones resulting in the accentuated flnal flare 00. As the cones naturally absorb a considerable amount of heat by their periodic insertions in the hot plastic glass they are cooled by oil dripping from the tubes III leading from the manifold I II to which the oil is fed by gravity by the tube IIS from the oil tank H0. The flow of oil in the tubes II! is regulated by pet-cocks H1, while at its source the flow is controlled by the pet-cocks 8.

After the flaring the blanks are passed on to the station where they are flanged. The flanging mechanism comprises the plunger. II9 on which is slidably mounted the flanging sleeve I20 integral with the flanging plate I2I. These parts co-operate with the flanging die I22 in the manner illustrated in Figure 15. The plunger I I9 is slidably mounted in the support I23 which is adjustable as to height in the base I24 by such means as the screw I25 and the nut I25. The

plunger is introduced into the flared end of the glass blank by virtually the same mechanism as that for-flaring. Accordingly it includes the depending member I21, the guide-bar I 25 and the lever I25 fulcrumed on shaft I01, the lever I29 having the cam follower I30 kept in contact with the cam I3l by the spring I32 between the depending member I21 and the base I24.

The flanging sleeve I20 with the plate -I2I is kept in pressure contact with the flange of the glass blank during the entire duration of the flanging process by the weight I35 adjustable by screw I35 on the lever I31 which extends radially outward from the plunger sleeve. The plunger sleeve I 20 has the oblique slot I35 in engagement with the pin I34 secured in the plunger, so that the downward pull .of the weight constantly urges the plunger sleeve to rotate and advance. The plunger is axially slidable but not rotatable in support I23, this end being attained by any desired or convenient complementary splining means, such as will be obvious to those skilled in this art. I

The flanging die I22 which has the two cylindrical surfaces I40 and HI stepped at shoulder I39 is rotatably mounted on shaft I42 carried by the arm I43 which is fixed on the shaft I44. The shaft I44 is slidably journalled in the support I45 and carries, beyond the support, the arm I45 to which is secured the plate I41, which is therefore, co-operative with shaft I44. The flanging die is raised to its operative position into contact with the glass blank by partial rotation of the shaft I44 which is effected by lowering the plate I48 mounted on the lifting shaft I49. Lifting shaft I49 is raised and lowered by means of bellcrank I53, fulcrumed on shaft I01, the belicrank carrying at its lower end the cam roller I55 engaging cam I51. The horizontal arm of the bellcrank is connected by link I54 to the member I55 fixed on vertical shaft I49. The plate I41 has threaded in it the screw bolts I50 and I5I in supported relation to the plate I45, the screw bolt I50 being located as far from the shaft I44 the-length of the plate allows. The screw I52 threaded in thebracket I55 integral with the guide base I45a abuts on the plate I41 and thereby limits the elevation of the flanging die I22. The tension spring I59 having attachment to the plate 1 and the top plate 54 of the main frame maintains the screw I50 in constant contact with the plate I45 and thereby insures the upward travel of the fianging die I22. If greater speed of arcuate travel of the die is desired the screw I5I can be used instead of the screw I50 since the two speeds of travel of the die for the same lifts of the plate I45 are inversely proportional to the distance of the respective screws to the fulcrum I44. The fianging die I22 is held in resilient relation with the inner surface of the glass flange by the spring I 50 attached to the arm I43 and to the support I45. The spacing between the die and the flanging plate I2I can be adjusted to the required thickness of the glass flange by the screw Ill'abutting the extremity of the shaft I44 against the tension of spring I50.

The flanging plate I2I of the plunger sleeve I20 is preferably larger in diameter than the resulting flange of the glass blank and therefore requires the conformation shown in Figure 18 in which the die is shown by the two dotted circles below the flanging plate and the plunger which is shown in full lines. The glass blank and flange are indicated by dash-dot circles concentrio with the plunger. It is seen that the flanging plate is cut off horizontally at the bottom to allow the smaller cylinder I40 of the die to pass underneath for the purpose illustrated in Figure 15.

It. has been found expedient to rotate the glass blanks rapidly during the operations of hanging and re-forming by increasing the rotational speed of the over-head rollers and the disc rollers. In the operation of hanging, the rotation of the glass blanks and their alignment is accomplished by the power-driven asbestos rollers I5I mounted on the shaft I52 which is journalled in the bearing I52a. The bearing I52a has the arm I53 adapted for turning in the support I54 fixed at the end of the arm I55. As in the case of the smaller overhead roller 53, a double roller is set at an angle to the direction of travel of the glass blanks. By reason of the considerable width of the double rollers their angular setting is considerably less than that of the smaller rollers. The arm I55 carries a slidable weight I55 for regulating the pressure of the rollers upon the glass blanks. The arm I55 is adjustable as to reach in the support I51 which is carried by the stanchion I55 slidable in guide-base I59 and having supports on the lift rail 59. The height of the asbestos rollers with reference to the disc rollers can be adjusted by means of the screw I10 at the bottom of the rod I59. The arm I55 is secured against horizontal deviation by the pilot pin I1I depending from the arm I12 which is fixed on thesliding stanchion I 55. The pilot pins "I have passage in the bracket I12 integral with the guide-base I55. The arm I55 which carries considerably more weight than the arm 55 must also be secured against bending vertically. and for this reason, it is extended beyond The proper rotational speed of the glass blanks,

however, is preserved by the use of the asbestos rollers, preferably double rollers, their somewhat yielding material gripping the glass blank more effectively than would a hard surface roller. such as a metal roller. The grip moreover, is a separate one for each roller to either side of the median line of the blank, provided that the axial center of both rollers is positioned exactly vertically above the median line of the blank. The

asbestos rollers are driven by the universal-joint ed shaft I11 in splined relation with the sliding sleeve shaft I15, rotation to these shafts being imparted by the shaft I in driven relation to the train of gears Ill. The two adjacent pairs of disc rollers which require to be driven at increased speed are mounted on the corresponding shafts I50 and I82. Referring to Figures 1, 2'1 and 28 it is seen that the sprockets I54 and Ill respectively are mounted on the shafts m and I02 which sprockets are driven in unison by the chain ill from the sprocket I99 of shaft I01. The shaft I01 is driven from the main drive shaft 210 in the base frame of the machine in the manner which is hereinafter described and shown in Fig. 28.

The end of the glass blank which is to be flanged and reformed are maintained in a plas-' ried by the arm I99. The tube I80 feeds a mixture of gas and air to the flame jet by way of the mixer I90 into which the gas and air are introduced by the tubes I9I and I92 from the supply manifolds.

The mechanically operated economizer I99, Figs. 1 and 27, is interposed between the manifold and mixer I90 for the purpose of reducing the flame during the intervals when the flanging device is inoperative, as during the forwarding of the glass blanks. The economizer, which is of standard type and includes the stationary disc 29!!) and the revolvable disc 294 whereby the gas flow is reduced to a minimum, is operated by the bell-crank 299 fulcrumed on shaft I01 and actuated by the cam 299 on the cam-shaft I09. The economizer may be of any desired or convenient typ and construction: for example. it may be essentially like that shown in Figs. 9 and 10 of patent to Thomas, 1,669,635 issued May 25, 1928.

Cooling of the plunger and flanging die is effected by oil drip from the leads I94 carried in bracket I90. The bracket I99 which is made in two sections, Figs. 12 and 15, is adjustable as to length by the slot and screw I95aand is pivotally mounted in the support I99. As the center of the weight of the bracket is back of its support, the bracket rests at all times on the limit pin I91. During the flanging operations whenthe lever I29 is advanced to the positions shown in dotted lines in Figure 15, the bracket is correspondingly rotated, the leads I94 being tipped thereby at an angle which automatically stops the oil drip.

After the glass blank has been flanged it is passed by the conveyor chain to the shearing device by which the flange is shaped as shown in Figure 25. Referring to Figure 19 it is seen that the shearingvmechanism comprises the carriage' I90 provided with the central rib I99 at eitherside of which are mounted the'chopping knives 290 provided with the sloping cutting edges 20I. Integral with the carriage I90 and depending from its bottom are the lugs 202 which pass through the slot 203 of the support plate 204, betweenthe ledges 200, of which, and the cover plate 209 the carriage I99 is slidably mounted. Integral with the cover-plate are the spaced lugs 201 which are welded or otherwise secured to the support 200 which has passage for the plunger 299. The plunger which has additional support in the bearing 2I0 secured to the cover-plate 209, has the depending "member 2 fixed to its rear end. The member 2 is provided with the perforation 2I2.which receives the pilot pin 2I3 fixed in the depending lug 2, the compression spring 2I9 being interposed between the member 2 and the lug 2I4.

F The support plate 204 is carried by the upright support 2I9 slidable in the guide member 2", the entire shearing mechanism being raised or lowered by the lever 2I9 fulcrumed in the bearing 2I9 integral with the bracket 220 secured to thebase frame of the machine. The lever 2I9 havingthe cam follower 22I is actuated by the cam 222 on the cam shaft I09. The movement of the lever 2I9 and consequently the upward travel of the shearing head is limited by the screw 229 and lock-nut 224 carried by the bracket 225. The tension spring 229 which is attached to arm 221 of the bearing 2I9 and any convenient part of the machine insures the constant engagement of the lever 2I9 with the cam 222 and also returns the shearer head to its operative position. Levers 2I9 and 221 are pinned to the shaft in bearing 2I9.

The plunger 209 is inserted into the glass blank by the lever 229 fulcrumed on shaft I01, the ad- ,Iustable tappet screw 229 carried by lever 229, bearing against the member 2, which, as already mentioned, is secured to the plunger. The lever 220 is actuated by the cam 230 whereby the plunger is moved forward and inserted into the mouth of the glass blank, the plunger being subsequently retracted therefrom by the action of the compression spring 2I9 and of the tension spring 2I0a attached to the bearing 2I0 and to the plunger. In Fig. 20, 2I0c is the slot in which pin 2I0b slides, the pin 2I0b being fixed in the plunger 209 which is retractable by the spring 2 I0a fastened to member 2I0. The plunger has the mandrel head 23I, which, as shown in Fig-' ure 23, is smaller in diameter than the body of the plunger and is connected therewith by the bevelled section 232 which serves to give the mouth of the glass blank the funnel-like end as illustrated in Figure 23.

The shearing of the glass flange is performed by the shearing knives 200, which in their nonoperative position shown in Figure 19, are distant from the face of the plunger support 200, the face being designated by the numeral 233.

This condition occurs when the shearing-head is in its lowest position at the moment the glass blank is positioned for shearing. When the shearing-head is subsequently raised, the flange of the glass blank contacts the face 233 and is behind and clear of the shearing knives. The shearing knives 200, which are spaced in shearing relation to the support are then retracted by the bell-crank 234 fulcrumed in the bearing 295 of the lugs 239 which are integral with the bottom plate 204. The bell-crank arm 231 engages the bearing pin in the lugs 202 of the knife carriage and thus alternately retracts and advances the knives which each cut a segment from the glass flange. Figure 25 shows the appearance of the flange after shearing.

The other end of the bell-crank 234 has connection with the push rod 239 on which is slidably mounted the collar 240. The fixed collar 2 is mounted intermediate the slidable collar 9 required for shearing glass flanges of normal plasticity. The push rod 238 is therefore lowered by the pressure of the collar 24l working against spring 244 which yields to the normal working pressure and. subsequently raises the push rod back to its normal position.

Should the glass flange, for some reason such as exceptionally low degree of plasticity, offer too much. resistance to the passage of the shearing knives, these knives, and consequently all other parts of the shearing mechanism would suddenly working alignment with the glass blank by cam 222 and spring 228; then plunger and mandrel are advanced and inserted into the flanged glass blank by cam 238; then the knives are moved toward the shearing head by cam 245 and shear flanges oil the glass blank; then' the knives are retracted by spring 244; then the plunger and mandrel are retracted by springs H and 2llla; then the shearing head is lowered by the rise of the cam 222, the sheared glass blank is forwarded by the conveying mechanism and a new blank is positioned by .the conveyor chain, and the above operations are repeated.

The glass flanges, after the shearing, have relatively sharp edges and the adjacent portion of the glass tube shows a slight oval distortion caused by the pulling action of the knives and the upwardly acting pressure component of the oblique knife edges. The glass blank is passed through a re-forming process effected by mechanism which is in all respects identical with that used for flanging including the use of double high speed asbestos rollers, accelerated disc rollers and the single jet overhead burner. The mechanism therefore needs no description.

After-preforming, the blanks are subjected to a smoothing process effected by successively directing two single jet burners 260 diagonally l0 ers. In the drawings only one overhead burner is shown fully piped and connected to the Economizer as illustrative of the entire installaion.

The driving mechanism comprises the motor 55 which, by sheave transmission 4| actuates the worm 42 and thereby the worm gear 43 keyed on the main shaft 44. Shaft 44 by gear 45 in mesh with gear 46 drives shaft 41 on which is mounted sprocket 48 which by chain 4!! drives sprocket 288 on shaft 25. On shaft 258 is mounted the Geneva drive wheel 258, which is engaged by the Geneva follower pin 268 on shaft 258. On shaft 258 are mounted the driving sprockets 260 and 26! which drive the conveyor chains 58a and 68b respectively, these chains being provided with the fingers 59 by which the glass blanks are periodically transferred. step-by-step, from one pair of disc arranged to the direction of travel of the blanks so that the flanges as well as the adjacent portions of the blank are uniformly heated. After the smoothing step, the flanged and sheared glass tubes are forwarded to the receiving line 241 (Fig. 1).

It should be noted that the pre-heating of the glass blanks is effected by the single jet 'bumer 248 of comparatively low heat, subsequent heatting to the required degree of plasticity being I achieved by the series of manifold burners 249.

disposed as shown in Figure 3, and the overhead single jet burners used in the operations of forming and reforming. 258 are two flshtail burners for annealing glass after the forming operations. Diffused heat is applied after theforming operations to eliminate internal stresses.

Gas, air and oxygen are piped to the burners from the valved manifolds 25l which communicate with the gas supply tubes 252, 253 and 254.

The tubes or pipes 255 connect the manifolds with the burners. As mentioned before, the economizer I93 is interposed between the gas feed system from the manifolds to the overhead burners. one economizer sufllcing for both burnhaving belt transmission 289 to the complemenrollers to the next one. as hereinbefore described. The conveyor chains 58 and 58b are in mesh with the sprockets 262 and 268 which are keyed on the shafts 264 and 285 respectively, these shafts being journalled in the supports r266. Idler sprockets 261 and 268 may be provided where required. The conveyor chain drive, above described, is shown separately in Figure 31.

The disc rollers which impart rotary motion to the glass blanks and also serve to align them. are driven as follows: The sprocket 269 on the main drive shaft 44 drives, by the chain 21f, the shaft 210 on which is mounted the sprocket 212. On shaft 210 is also mounted sprocket218 which, by chain 214, drives sprocket 215 keyed on shaft 216 (see Figure 28). On shaft 216 is also keyed sprocket 211 (see Fig. 29) meshing with chain 218 which returns on sprocket 219 on shaft 288. The upper length of chain 218 intermediate the sprockets is supported on rail 291 and engages each one of the sprockets 82 which are keyed on shafts 8|. The shafts 8| carry the disc rollers 51a and 51b (Fig. l) which impart rotation to the glass blanks. The drive above described is shown in Figure 29.

From Figure 30, which shows the drive for the overhead rollers 68 it isseen that the sprocket 82 (which, although shown as such need not necessarily be the terminal sprocket of the chain drive shown in Figure 29) is keyed on the shaft 8|. On shaft BI is also keyed the gear 88 (Fig. 4) which, by the intermediate gear 18 drives gear 18 on shaft 84, on which shaft is the sprocket 83 of the chain drive which has the chain 28! and the return sprocket 282, identical with the intermediate sprocket 83. The lower reach of the chain 2! is kept free of the sprocket 88 by the interposed guide rail 284; the upper reach of chain 28l engages all the sprockets 88 mounted on shafts 84, which through the universal shaft extensions 11 and 88 actuate all overhead rollers 83.

The means employed for driving the discrollers at increased speed in the operations of flanging and re-forming by chain transmission from shaft I81 have already been described. It should be noted however that a variable speed drive is employed from shaft 218 to shaft I81 which comprises the multiple step pulley 298 on shaft 218 tary step pulley 880 on shaft I81. By this means three or four different speeds for the disc rollers and overhead asbestos rollers can thereby be obtained, the selection of speed being governed by the inter-related conditions of friction, plasticity, adhesives and relative rotational speed of the glass blanks.

All overhead rollers 53 and I6! are jointly raised, prior to the shifting of the glass blanks from one recess between disc rollers to the next recess, by the lifting bar 89. They'are subsequently allowed to res'tonitheglassblanks again by their own weight, their elevation and descent being concurrent with the periodic starting and stopping of the conveyor chain, as effected by the Geneva drive. The lifting bar 83 is carried on the supporting lugs 285 of the lifting rods 235 which are slidable vertically in the guides 281 attached to the main frame. The rods 286 are raised and lowered by such means as the bellcrank 288 fulcrumed in the bearings 283 and actuated in unison by the connecting rod 298 which is reciprocated by the lever 25" actuated by cam 232 on the main shaft 44.

The machine hereinbefore described and also illustrated in Figures 1 to 31 performs various operations by devices adapted for the particular products. It is obvious that these devices can be adapted to the performance of slightly different operations by the substitution of different tools without alteration of the working parts of the machine.

For instance, the making of glass syringes requires the fianging, shearing, and re-forming operations identical with those already described. In order to make the tip of the syringe barrel, the glass tube must pass through the steps designated by letters a to d in Figure 36. It is apparent from the drawing that these various steps can be carried out by the same mechanical devices as before, with only slight modifications. In the drawings, Figures 32 to 38, the parts of the devices which remain unaltered are designated by the same reference numerals as before.

In referring to Figures 32 to 36 it will be seen that the device illustrated pertains to the forming of the tips of syringe barrels and that operations required are fundamentally the same as those performed by the devices shown in Figures 12 to 15.

The first operation, shown in Figure 36b consists in forming the end of the barrel tube into a flared neck 32| which is narrow at the base, by the roller dies 385 and 386which rotate in unison in opposite directions above and below the neck.

The simple device shown in Figures 13 and 14 is therefore modified into the double-acting device best illustrated in Figure 33. The upper roller 385 is rotatably mounted on shaft 38! carried by the arm 389 which is secured on the shaft 3i I.

The lower roller 386 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 388 carried by the arm 3l8 on the shaft 3l2. On the shaft 3 is the spur gear 3l3 in mesh with the spur gear 3l4 on shaft M2, to which oscillating motion is imparted by the arm I45 which carries the plate I41 of an oscillating device identical with that shown in Figure 13 and actuated by similar mechanism, the rollers 385 and 38"! being thereby periodically moved from the operative positions shown in Figure 33 to the arcuately spaced non-operative p-sitions shown in dotted lines. The gears 3i3 and 3M are enclosed in the housing M5 on the support 313, the roller dies 385 and 386 being adjustable axially with reference to the glass tube by the screws M6 and 3|! and the retracting springs 319 equivalent to the single spring I68 shown in Figure 12.

In order to provide the flared tip with the required orifice the device has the cone-shaped mandrel 382 on the plunger shaft 38l the cone having the flange 384 and prolonged into the straight mandrel 383 of a diameter corresponding to that of the required duct, the composite mandrel co-operating with the die rollers as shown in Figures 34 and 35b, the method of advancings and retracting the mandrels being the same as that shown in Figure 15.

After the first tip-forming operation, which results in the tip-shaped end shown in Figure 36b the glass tube, which has cooled during that operation is heated again and brought to a degree of plasticity which causes the flared neck to close and assume the bulbous shape shown in Figure 36c, the straight mandrel 324 being inserted by mechanism the same as that shown at 383 in Figure 34, to form the duct 0f the syringe tip. After the first tip-forming operation (preforming) which results in the tip shape shown in Fig. 36b, the glass tube passes to the next preforming operation performed by the rollers 324a and 32422 and the straight mandrel 324 which gives the tip a bulbous shape. The final forming operation which results in the tip shape shown in Figure 36d is performed in the manner and by the same means as in the first operation, the only difference being the shape of the rollers 322 and 323 and 0f the mandrel 323, the final product then is a syringe having a tapered tip with the restricted portion or neck 328 at the base, the tip being provided with a straight duct communicatlng with the interior of the syringe barrel. There remains the straight portion at the extremity of the tip which is cut off by a rotating disc-cutter, but the operation can only be performed when the tip has been thoroughly cooled and is perhaps best done by hand.

Another substitution of tools is shown in Figures 37 and 38 for the purpose of forming the grip of the-syringe piston which is produced by the progressive steps shown in Figures 39a and 39b and 390. Referring to the drawings it is apparent that the mechanical devices employed are identical with those shown in Figure 15 with the exception of forming dies. The making of the syringe pistons however should be done on a separate machine, which may include means for blowing. As depicted in Fig. 3'7 the tube is represented as blown before it is fed onto the conveyor discs 51a. The piston tube, which has been blown to the globular bulb shape shown in Fig. 39 prior to being put on the machine is kept rotating by the asbestos rollers IBI. The globular bulb is then compressed to the partially flattened shape shown in dotted lines by the forming die 325 mounted on the plunger shaft 38l which is advanced and retracted by the mechanical means shown in Figure 15. The forming die, which is of circular shape has the concave matrix 326 by which the preliminary shape of the bulb is effected. The glass piston is then heated again and is passed on to the final forming operation illustrated in Figure 39c which is again effected by the same mechanism as before, the operation being almost the same as the hanging operation shown in Figure 15.

Referring to Figure 38 it will be seen that the block 321 which is preferably made of carbon or other heat-resisting material and which has the flat compression surface 328, is mounted on the plunger shaft 38l and works in co-operation with the forming die 332 provided with the shoulder 33i and the bevelled edge 323. The glas piston. as before, is rotated by the asbestos overhead rollers I61. By advancing the carbon die 32! against the partially flattened piston bulb and raising the forming die to the position shown the final, shape shown in Figure 39c is produced.

13 The piston is now provided with a flat rim evolved by pressing the front and rear sides of the previously flattened bulb together, and a neck portion 330 of reduced diameter which enables the manipulator of the syringe to get a better hold on the piston.

From the above description it is obvious that the mechanism described can be used for any forming operation requiring a plunger and mandrel either singly or in combination with one or more rotary forming dies.

I claim:

1. In a machine for treating glass blanks, means for passing the blanks through the machine, means to heat and soften the blanks during their passage through the machine, means to interrupt the passage of the blanks and to flange .them when so interrupted, a mechanism for hearing flanged portions of said blanks, comprising a support plate, a carriage slldably arranged on said plate. said carriag having a face, a plunger slidably arranged in said carriage, means to urge said plunger into a glass blank having a flange to be sheared and to urge said flange against said face, shearing members flxed to said carriage, and means to reciprocate said carriage on its support to move the shearing members into shearing engagement with the flange to shear the latter.

2. In a machine for treating glass blanks, means for passing the blanks through the machine, means to heat and soften the blanks during their passage through the machine, mean to interrupt the passage of the blanks and to flange them when so interrupted, a mechanism for shearing flanged portions of said blanks, comprising'a support plate, a carriage slidably arranged on said plate, said carriage having a face, means to urge the flange of a glass blank to be sheared a a nsaid face, shearing members fixed to said carriage, and means to reciprocate said carriage on its support to move the shearing members into shearing engagement with the flange.

3. In a machine for treating glass blanks, means for passing the blanks through the machine, means to heat and soften the blanks during their passage through the machine, means to interrupt the passage of th blanks and to flange them when so interrupted, a mechanism for shearing flanged portions of said blanks, comprising a support, shearing members, means to position the flanged portion of a glass blank to be sheared against said support, and means to actuate said shearing members into shearing engagement with said flanged portion of the blank.

4. In a machine for treating glass blanks, means for passing the blanks through the machine, means to heat and soften the blanks during their passage through the machine, means to interrupt the passage of the blanks and to flange them when so interrupted, a support plate, a carriage slldably positioned on said plate, knives fixed to said carriage, a plunger, a beveled head on said plunger, means to position the end of a flanged glass blank on the beveled head of said plunger, and means to reciprocate the carriage relative to the flange of said blank to move the knives against said flange to sever portions of said flange therefrom.

5. In a machine for treating glass blanks, means for passing the blanks through the machine, means to heat and soften the blanks during their passage through the machine, means to interrupt the passage of the blanks and to flange them when so interrupted, a support plate, a carriage slidably positioned on said plate, knives flxed to said carriage, said knives having sloping cut edges. 9. plunger, means to position the end of a flanged glass blank on said plunger and means to reciprocate the carriage relative to the flange oi said blank to move the knives against said flange to sever portions of said flange therefrom.

CHARLES EISLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

Gray Jan. 18, 1945 

